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From Michael Uslan, "The Great S. Cape!" follows a magician/illusionist who becomes a private detective.

The Dark Knight Rises producer Michael Uslan is teaming with digital media company Blip for an original superhero web series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned exclusively.

The Great S. Cape!, a 12-installment live-action series created by Uslan and described as a "film noir adventure," follows superhero Stephen Cape, a magician and illusionist who applies his skills -- and refusal to use a gun -- to his newfound mission as a private detective. When he stumbles across the most insidious murder plot in Hollywood, powerful forces set out to stop him at all costs.

South African actor Ian Duncan will star as Stephen, with additional castmembers announced shortly. Uslan, who was an executive producer on Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, will write and executive produce with Michael Goldfineproducing. Production will begin at the end of April.

Blip will premiere The Great S. Cape! later this year on its website and will offer a sneak preview May 1 at its NewFront presentation in New York.

"The Great S. Cape! marks the triumphant return of the chapter-by-chapter Saturday-matinee movie serial of old that was dominated by superheroes like Batman, Superman and Captain America," said Uslan. "Original web series are at the cutting edge of the entertainment industry, and working with Blip I can reach audiences in new ways with more immersive characters and stories."

Added Blip CEO Kelly Day: “Working with such an esteemed producer as Michael Uslan to bring his new superhero vision to life is an incredible collaboration for us, and his plans to tap top comic book writers and devotees from the fan film world make this something truly groundbreaking. The Blip audience is going to love the action, adventure and the return of the nail-biter.”

Blip, which launched in 2005, develops, produces and distributes original web series. The Great S. Cape! is produced by Branded Entertainment Llc. in association with Rockstream Studios.